Waste charging law passes in Hong Kong

Residents will have to pay 11 cents per liter of rubbish they dump after a municipal waste charging law passed today in Legislative Council. 

The law, which has been over 15 years in the making, passed this morning with 37 votes in support and one vote against. 

Secretary for Environment Wong Kam-sing said there will be a preparation period of at least 18 months before the law’s enforcement. 

The government will set an implementation date following a consultation, which will address problems facing the poor. 

According to the law, residents will have to pay for bags for their rubbish. There are nine sizes of bags, from the smallest bag, which three liters, to the largest, which is 100 liters, meaning the price of a 10-liter bag will be HK$1.10. 

A family of three is expected to pay about HK$36 to HK$52 a month.

During the preparation period, the government will hand out free bags to the public so they can adapt to the mechanism, Wong said.